New England budget 01.27.09

Here are the top New England regional stories coming today from GateHouse News Service. Stories are available at gatehousenewsservice.com.

cbiondi@gatehousemedia.com

Here are the top New England regional stories coming today from GateHouse News Service. Stories are available at gatehousenewsservice.com. Please submit stories below no later than 6 p.m. local time, unless you have breaking news that is changing significantly. Questions?

Contact: Chris Biondi, (508) 626-4343, cbiondi@gatehousemedia.com

At ghnewsroom.com:

A closer examination of Web-first publishing

News

RARE GULL HAS BIRDWATCHERS FLOCKING TO PLYMOUTH - Birdwatchers from far and near have been flocking to Plymouth and Gloucester in hopes of adding an extremely rare bird to their life list. Ivory gulls normally stay well above Newfoundland living on artic ice where they follow polar bears to feed on the scraps and carcasses they leave behind after making a kill. The last report of a fully mature ivory gull in Massachusetts occurred in the 1800s. In 1976 an immature bird was spotted in Rockport. Three other immature birds were seen in the 1940s.
Enterprise, Julius, on wire now for a.m. publication/Web
With photos

BABY HARBOR SEAL RESCUED FROM CAPE COD BEACH - The call came into the Dennis Natural Resources Department at noon Saturday. A resident walking along the beach behind the Lighthouse Inn in West Dennis spotted a baby harbor seal tucked against the jetty.
Register, Muller, on wire now
With photo

CONTROVERSIAL WESTBORO BAPTIST CHURCH PLANS MASS. PROTESTS - On Friday, March 13, the Westboro Baptist Church will picket at Lexington High School and Hanscom Air Force Base after visitng Cambridge Rindge and Latin School in the morning. Members will picket at Reading High School in the evening.
Lexington Minuteman, Kelly, on wire now

MULTIMEDIA: A LOOK BACK AT INAUGURATION 2009 - A week after Barack Obama took the oath of office, the dust on the National Mall has settled and the luster of one of the most historic inaugurations has dulled. This slide show is a compilation of photos and voices from that Swearing In Ceremony.
CNC, Gordon, on wire now

RECALLED PEANUT BUTTER PRODUCTS TO RETURN TO STORES IN A FEW WEEKS - Salmonella outbreak is responsible for seven deaths and 491 infection cases in 43 states.
Ledger, Lotan, on wire now

GOOD TIMES FOR SNOW LOVERS - Another winter storm is expected to drop 3 to 6 inches of snow on the region Tuesday night through Wednesday, mixed with sleet in areas south of Boston. North and west of Boston could get up to a foot of snow. And there’s a chance of snow showers on Thursday and Friday.
Enterprise, on wire now
With photos

Business

CAPE COD CANAL POWER PLANT CLOSURE WOULD HAVE FAR-REACHING CONSEQUENCES - The Mirant Power Plant could be operational for just 42 days per year by this June and could ultimately be closed for good according to Independent System Operator New England.
Sandwich Broadsider, Babin, on wire now
With photo

WEB SITE A BIG HIT WITH NFL FANS - Quincy resident Kerry Byrne created ColdHardFootballFacts.com in 2004. The site has received tens of millions of hits each month of this football season.
Ledger, Onufrak, on wire now
With photo

PETER CHIANCA: A TWIT TWEETS AND TRIES FOR TIX - If you haven’t tried to buy Red Sox tickets lately, the process involves logging on to their Web site and being shuffled into a “virtual waiting room.” After that, one computer sitting in a janitor’s closet at Fenway Park gives you a chance to buy tickets at some random moment during the next 24 hours.
CNC, on wire now
With art

EDITORIAL: DISGRACE ON BEACON HILL - House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi has resigned, and for those keeping track, that means three speakers in a row have left the House under what is euphemistically called an "ethical cloud." That record is a stain on Massachusetts, one that further justifies the public perception that integrity on Beacon Hill is the exception, not the rule.
MetroWest, on wire now

Sports

WATCH FOR PRO SPORTS at prosports@gatehousemediane.com

Lifestyles

DARIN ST. GEORGE: LESS TALK, MORE ROCK - Lately, I have been e-mailing some of my clients, and they are stockpiling whole-body workouts in their inbox while exporting fat to their outbox. I know the cyber-humor is tickling your microprocessor
MetroWest, on wire now

DR. JEFF HERSH: PROS AND CONS OF ASPIRIN THERAPY - Q: I am on a baby aspirin to help prevent a second heart attack. However, I am going to have oral surgery and my surgeon told me to stop aspirin for 10 days to decrease my risk of bleeding. If aspirin might make me bleed from the surgery, aren't I at risk if I get in a car accident? Does ibuprofen have the same risks?
MetroWest, on wire now

DR. MURRAY FEINGOLD: ENCASED IN FRUSTRATION - If you weren't already aware of it, the holiday gift-giving season certainly brought it to your attention: the difficulty associated with opening packages containing toys, electronics and other products
MetroWest, on wire now

SENIOR SAVVY: ADVICE ON HIRING A PERSONAL CARE AIDE - Q: My father has finally agreed to accept help in the home with household chores and with personal care. He has the name of a person who is willing to step into that role. Is this a practical idea or should I go through an agency?
MetroWest, on wire now

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